PMQT Written Answers – 7 December 1993

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 7th December 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

Visits

Mr. Mullin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official visits by himself and his predecessor to (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Malaysia and (c) Singapore since June 1987; and which such visits included party political activities in addition to official duties.

The Prime Minister : Official visits were made to Saudi Arabia in January 1991, March 1991 and January 1993; to Malaysia in August 1988, October 1989 (for CHOGM) and September 1993; and to Singapore in August 1988. The official visits made by my right hon. and noble Friend were a matter for her. Since November 1990 each of my visits to the countries concerned have been entirely for official purposes.

No. 10 Downing Street

Mr. Beith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, Official Report, column 419, which charitable or other non- official organisations or groups have been notified that they may organise events at No. 10 Downing Street under the financial arrangements described in his answer.

The Prime Minister : I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 30 November 1993 at columns 418-19.

Ministers (Severance Pay)

Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list those who have resigned, retired or been dismissed from ministerial office in the past 10 years and the severance pay in (i) cash and (ii) current prices paid to each one.

The Prime Minister : As the Financial Secretary explained on 28 October in his reply to a question from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen), the Parliamentary Pensions Act 1984 introduced severance payments for Ministers and other paid office holders in the House of Lords, subject to the conditions set out in the Act. The Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 extended the provision to Commons Ministers and other paid office holders in neither House.

Although no composite list is kept, we have identified from our records the following occasions on which severance payments have been authorised since 31 July 1984. In each case the severance payment would have been equal to three months of the relevant ministerial salary, as provided for by the Act.